Hair curler



Sept. 2, 1930. E. SMITH 1,774,532

HAIR CURLER Filed June 2o. 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 "IliilllIllllllllllllllllllllllllu Sept. 2, 1930. E. SMITH 1,774,532

HAIR CURLER Filed June 2o. 192s 2 snows-sheet 2 j /4 /5 /7 .427 /2///4 /5 //g//W` f5 7 INVENTOR. yyfaf/fo/y k7/7W.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST L. SMITH, F SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 RINGLETTE PERUA- NENT COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

i FORNIA CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALI- HAIR CURLEB Application led .Tune 20, 1928. Serial No. 286,809.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to a device for hair waving and curling.

On the electrical hair waving or curling devices in use at present, it'is necessary to employ a large number of electric conduits, one for each heating unit of the hair curling device. It is well known that during permanent waving or other hair curling, practically' the whole head is covered with hair curling units, and thereby it is usually necessary to surround the whole head with a large number of electrical conduits leading from the source of electricity, which are both inconvenient and ineilicient.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a hair curler which may be readily connected in series to the adjacent curler so that the number of electric conduits leading from the source of electricity to the head is reduced to a pair of conduits.

A further object of the invention is the rovision of a hair curling or waving device4 1n which the electrical heating units are disposed inside of a spindle, upon which the hair is wound.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a clamping device which 1s adapted to firmly and securely grip the hair,

80 and which is adapted to firmly hold in place a spindle upon which the hair may be'wound very tightly without causing the pulling of' the hair or irritating of the human scalp, the spindle being held in place by the force of the turning moment exerted thereon by the tightly wound hair. l Another object of the invention is the rovision of a clamp for firmly securing the air to a spindle upon which the hair is wound,

40 and in which'anelectrical heating element is disposed, said spindle bein provided with socketsat the opposite ends t ereof to receive the terminals of electric conduits. one end of the spindle being formed in the shape of a ratchet for engaging a holding member upon said clamp, which holding member is so shaped as to act as a pawl, thereby holding the spindle in place against the unwinding tendency of the hair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair curler which is highly u'seful and simple in construction. Convenience of arrangement, lightness, and capability of manufacture at lower cost are further objects which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the invention.

With the above mentioned objects and other objects4 in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and lcombination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may -be resorted to without departing from the spirit, or withoutsacrificing any of the advantages, of the invention.

In the drawings- Figure- 1 is a side view of a plurality of hair curlers connected with each other in series, and also showing the means for controlling thel electric current for the heating elements of the hair curlers, the hair curlers lleing shown in operative position upon the Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of the hair curler with the cover removed, showing the same in the position when the spindle is secured upon the clam and showing the hair wound around the splndle;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the cover foilthe electric curler; ingthe same in a clamping position;

igure 5 is a plan view of the clamp, showing the same in the open position thereof Figure 6 is a longitudinal view of the complete hair curler;

Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the assembled hair'curler, the section being taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the spindle, showing the means thereon for holding the end of the hair thereon.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a spindle, denoted in itsentirety by the numeral 6, and a clam designated in its entirety by the numeral The spindle 6 comprises a shank member 8, the cross-sectional igure 4 is a plan view of the clamp, showarea of which uniformly decreases from the end toward the central portion of the shank. In other words, the shank is in the form of a circular body generated by the rotation of a curved line around the spindles longitudinal axis. At one end of the shank is disposed an enlarged cylindrical head 9, and the other end 0f the shank 6 terminates in a ratchet head 11. The spindle is hollow, providing a centrally disposed axial bore 12 therein, into which a tube 13, preferably a porcelain tube, is secured. AInside of the porcelain tube is an electric heating coil 14 connected to sockets 15 disposed in the opposite ends of the porcelain tube 13 and adapted to receive a plug terminal 17 of a connecting vwire 18 therein.

Upon the spindle is a plate 19 pivotally secured adjacent to an end of the shank 8 as at 21; said plate 19 substantially conforming to a portion of the circumference of the shank 8, with which portion it coacts. The pivoted end of the plate 19 is cut away as at 20, so as to allow the rotation of the plate around its pivot. The clamp 7 comprises a hinge plate 23, at one end of which is pvotally secured a clamping jaw 24. At the other end of said hinge plate 23 is similarly pivoted a second clamping aw 26. The pivoted ends of the jaws 24 and 26 are provided with slots 27 for receiving the hinge plate 23 therein. The jawsare so disposed, relatively to each other, that when rotated in a clamping position as shown in Figure 4, the inside edges of the jaws are in close proximity to each other. The top face of each jaw is recessed adjacent to the inside edge thereof, so that when the jaws are in closed position, the recesses form a groove 25 of arcuate cross section, in which the spindle 6 is received.

Inside of the jaw 24 is fixedly secured a gripping member 28, preferably made of rubber, while the jaw 26 has a centrally disposed longitudinal groove 29 therein so disposed as to receive the gripping member 28 therein when the jaws are closed. The groove 29 is made so as to allow the snug fitting of the gripping plate 28 therein. The hair is pressed by the gripping plate into the groove 29 when the clamp is closed.

At the free end of the jaw 24 is pivotally secured a fastening plate 31 rotatable in a groove 32 in the free end of 'the jaw 24. Upon the free end of the fastening plate 31 is eccentrically pivoted, as at 33, a cam lever 34. The free end of the jaw 26 is provided with an end groove or recess 36, similar to that of 32, into which the plate 31 extends when the clamp is closed.

The hair is inserted between the jaws and the strand of hair inserted is spread along the edge of the gripping member 28, whereupon the jaws are rotated toward each other so that the gripping member 28 presses the strand of hair into the groove 29 and firmly holds the same therein. The fastening plate 31 is turned around its pivot s0 as to assume the position shown in Figure 4, in which position it is inserted into the recesses 32 and 36. The cam lever 34 is now turned to the position shown in Figure 4, engaging an indentation 37 in the corresponding edge of the aw 26, upon which now the cam lever 34 exerts a pressure. After the cam lever 34 passes its center of rotation, then the fastenin plate 31 and the cam lever 34 are prevente rom accidental removal from the recesses 32 and 36, partly by the friction between the cam lever 34 and the outside edge of the jaw 26, and partly by the indentation 37 with which the eccentric portion of the cam lever is firmly engaged.

A substantially semi-cylindrical socket 38 is secured on one face of the jaw 24 by means of a screw 39, the screw being counter-sunk in the manner shown in Figure 7. One edge of the socket 38 is dented outwardly and rebent as at 41 so as to cooperate with the ratchet head 11 forpreventing the rotation of the latter. It is to be noted that the edge 41 of the socket 38 functions as a pawl.l

The device is attached to the hair by the following. method: A strand of moistened hair is inserted into the clamp, the clamp being in such position that the socket 38 thereon points away from the human scalp. The jaws 24 and 26 are made of bakelite or other insulating material so as to obviate the danger of burning or irritating the' scalp. The strand of hair is properly spread over the gripping member 28, and then the clamp is fastened in place in the manner heretofore described.

It is to be noted that any pull exerted upon the hair, extending from the side of the clamp on which the socket 38 is located, will not be transmitted to the root of the hair while the clamp is held -in position. The hair is so firmly gripped in the clamp that the possibility of pulling the hair thru the clamp is entirely obviated.

Now the free end of the strand of hair is inserted between the plate 19 and the shank 8 in the manner shown in Figure 8. As the plate 19 conforms to a portion of the circumference of tlfe shank 8, the end of the hair will be held against the curved shank surface when the plate 19 is turned in the position shown in Figure 8. It is to be noted that the spindle 6 at this time is not secured upon the clamp 7. The spindle 6 is so positioned that the ratchet head 11 thereof is toward the end of the socket 38. The spindle is turned, thereby winding the hair thereon around the outside of the plate19, thus still more firmly securing the end of the hair in place. Vhen the hair is completely wound on the shank 8, the spindle assumes the position shown in Figure 2, the spindle-being in the recess 25, and the ratchet head 11 thereof engaging the socket 38. The teeth of the ratchet and the pawl 41 cooperate in such a manner as to act against the unwinding tendency of the hair upon the spindle. The winding of the hair is accomplished by the rotation of the spindle in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7 From the same ligure, it will be clearly seen that any unwinding tendency of the hair will exert. a turning moment in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Figure 7, and thus will cause a still iirmer engagement of the serrations or teeth of the ratchet head 1l with the pawl 41.

In order to allow still further tightening and winding of the hair, recesses 42 are provided in the end face of the cylindrical head 9 and are disposed in diametrically opposite positions so that a key, having corresponding double prongs, (not shown) may be inserted thereinto, thus providing sufficient leyerage for still further tightening and winding the hair on the spindle. Any returning movement of the spindle is prevented by the engagement of the consecutive teeth or serrations of the ratchet head 11 with the pawl 41.

After the hair is wound, and the spindle is fastened in place on the clamp, a cover 43 is placed over the spindle. The cover 43 is a cylindrical cover made of resilient material, and its cross section is slightly more than a semi-circle so that the same Imust be stretched While it is slid over the heads 9 and 11, but then it resiliently grips the heads 9 and 11, thereby being securely held in position.

After the desired number-of hair curling devices is attached to the hair vin the position shown in Figure 1, then the connecting wires 18 are used for connecting the hair curling devices in series with each other. Each end of the connecting wire 18 is provided with the plug terminal 17. It is to be noted on Figure 1 that the wires 18 are disposed alternately on the opposite sides of the devices, connecting the adjacent sockets 15 in series. The wire 18 is flexible so that it may assume the shape shown at 44 for connecting the uppermost units of the two rows of hair curling devices shown in the illustration in Figure 1.

Now, the only connections that lead from the outside source of electricity to the hair curling devices are the conduits46, an end of each being provided with a similar plug terminal 17 for connecting to the first two units of the series of hair curling devices. The other ends of the conduits 46 are secured to the respective terminals of a resistance box 47, which, in turn, is connected to the source of electricity by the conduits 48. The resistance box 47 is provided with a plurality of contact blocks 49 and a control handle 51 of the usual construction so as to regulate the voltage in the heating elements 14, thereby preventing the creation of excessive heat when a small number of units are emplo ed and connected in series, or preventing t e reduction of the current below vthe necessary voltage when a large number of curling devices or units is connected in series. The proper voltage for effecting the suitable heat of the electric heating elements 14 may be experimentally determined.

It will be recognized that a particularly facile device is provided to accomplish the above described method of curling the, hair in a simple manner and in such a way as to eliminate the large number of electric con- .38, to the other end of the jaw 24, both ends of the spindle 6 may be similarly secured to the clamp'7.

I claim: y

1. In a hair curling and waving device, a clamp for gripping the hair at a point near the scalp, said clamp comprising two jaws, a member for pivotally holding said jaws in coacting relation wit-h each other, the hair being gripped between adjacent faces of opposing jaws, means for fastening said jaws in hair gripping position to prevent the pulling of the hair therethrough, a shank for wmding into a coil the length of hair extending from the clamp, a cover for said shank, and means for holding the shank on said clamp and releasably locking the same from rotation in one direction, the said clamping jaws each having an arcuate longitudinal bevel at the upper portion of their cooperating clamping ed es whereby a longitudinal groove is ormed on the upper face of the clamp overlying the gripping tongue, so that the shank and holding means therefor may be placed in close proximity to the scalp.

2. In-a. haii` curlin and waving device, a clamp for gripping the hair at a point near the scalp, said clamp comprising two jaws, a member for pivotally holding said jaws in coacting relation with each other, a gripping tongue extending from the clam ing edge of one jaw, the clamping edge o the other jaw Ihaving a corresponding groove therein, the hair being pressed by said gripping tongue into said groove, means for fastening said jaws in a gripping position to prevent the pulling of the hair therethrough, a shank lfor winding into a coil the length of hair eXtendin'U from the clamp, a cover for said shank, anda means for holding the shank on said clamp With the hair coiled thereon and for releasably locking the same from rotation in one direction, the said clamping jaws each having an arcuate 1ongitudinal bevel at the upper portion of their cooperating clamping edges whereby a longitudinal groove is formed on the upper face of the clamp overlying the gripping tongue, so that the shank and holding means therefor may be placed in close proximity to the scalp.

3. A hair curling and Waving device comprising a means for gripping the hair; means for Winding into a coil under tension the length of hair extending from said gripping means Without aecting the hair between the gripping means and the scalp; means for securing said Winding means against unwinding rotation when the length of hair is completely Wound thereon, and an electric heating element extending thru said Winding means, said gripping means having a baille to prevent heat from the heating element from reaching the scalp.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ERNEST L. SMITH. 

